Animal husbandry – Aquatic animal culturing – Aquarium
Reexamination Certificate
1999-09-09
2001-08-14
Poon, Peter M. (Department: 3643)
Animal husbandry
Aquatic animal culturing
Aquarium
C119S254000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06273025
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to aquarium pumps and more specifically it relates to an aquarium water circulation system for providing improved water circulation to a saltwater aquarium by simulating a natural wave motion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Aquarium water pumps have been in use for years. Typically, a conventional water pump for saltwater aquariums comprises a plurality of pumps that are timed to create surges within the water.
One of the main disadvantages of conventional saltwater circulation pumps is that the electric motors within them often become damaged because of the extreme power surges required to create the simulated wave motion. In addition, conventional saltwater circulation devices do not provide an even motion of water as found with natural waves.
Examples of water circulation devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,657 to Idbeis; U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,966 to Smolski; U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,204 to Rahn; U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,263 to Goldman et al. which are all illustrative of such prior art.
Idbeis (U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,657) discloses an aquarium sea current generator. Idbeis teaches the use of two compartments within an aquarium with a constant flow air pump connected to a water chamber for pumping air in and expelling water out of an opening into the aquarium and then into the upper chamber.
Smolski (U.S. Pat. No. 3,452,966) discloses a liquid treatment apparatus. Smolski teaches the utilization of a helical baffle within a tube for moving water into a spiral and upward motion.
Rahn (U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,204) discloses a wave maker for living aquariums. Rahn teaches the use of a shuttle valve for directing pressurized water from a pump to one of two outlets thereby creating a desired wave motion.
While these devices may be suitable for the particular purpose to which they address, they are not as suitable for providing improved water circulation to a saltwater aquarium by simulating a natural wave motion. Conventional water circulation devices do not adequately create the desired water flows associated with natural wave movements which are desirable for the health of living organisms within a saltwater aquarium.
In these respects, the aquarium water circulation system according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in so doing provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing improved water circulation to a saltwater aquarium by simulating a natural wave motion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of water circulation devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a new aquarium water circulation system construction wherein the same can be utilized for providing improved water circulation to a saltwater aquarium by simulating a natural wave motion.
The general purpose of the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide a new aquarium water circulation system that has many of the advantages of the water circulation devices mentioned heretofore and many novel features that result in a new aquarium water circulation system which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the prior art water circulation devices, either alone or in any combination thereof.
To attain this, the present invention generally comprises a container having an interior portion, a plurality of upper slots within said container, a plurality of lower slots within said container, a shaft having a first threading and a second threading, a plunger member threadably attached about said shaft and slidably positioned within said container, and a motor mechanically connected to said shaft for rotating said shaft. As the plunger member is forced downwardly, the water within the container is forced out from the lower slots and into the upper slots. When the plunger member is forced upwardly, the water within the container is forced out from the upper slots and into the lower slots simulating wave motions.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.
A primary object of the present invention is to provide an aquarium water circulation system that will overcome the shortcomings of the prior art devices.
Another object is to provide an aquarium water circulation system that simulates a wave motion within a conventional aquarium.
An additional object is to provide an aquarium water circulation system that improves the water circulation within a saltwater aquarium.
A further object is to provide an aquarium water circulation system that increases the quality of life for living organisms within a saltwater aquarium.
Another object is to provide an aquarium water circulation system that has only a few moving components.
An additional object is to provide an aquarium water circulation system that has no electrical components beneath the water level of the aquarium.
A further object is to provide an aquarium water circulation system that extends the useful life of the electric motor.
An additional object is to provide an aquarium water circulation system that provides a constant alternating water current.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become obvious to the reader and it is intended that these objects and advantages are within the scope of the present invention.
To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, this invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that changes may be made in the specific construction illustrated and described within the scope of the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3638795 (1972-02-01), Feddern et al.
patent: 3929101 (1975-12-01), Katz
patent: 3971338 (1976-07-01), Alexson
patent: 4302273 (1981-11-01), Howard, Jr.
patent: 4954052 (1990-09-01), Simmons
patent: 5467739 (1995-11-01), Boschert
patent: 5535702 (1996-07-01), Idbeis
patent: 5732657 (1998-03-01), Idbeis
patent: 5782204 (1998-07-01), Rahn
patent: 594159 (1994-04-01), None
patent: 62258011 (1992-04-01), None
patent: 8154534 (1996-06-01), None
patent: 9300800 (1993-01-01), None
patent: 9941980 (1999-08-01), None
Laird Joseph D.
Resnick Michael J.
Neustel Michael S.
Nguyen Son T.
Poon Peter M.
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